Posted on 4/18/2008 4:39:41 PM

NBA Basketball Playoff Betting Preview – Lakers vs. Nuggets

By Charles Jay

NBA Western Conference Playoffs

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (57-25 SU, 47-34-1 ATS) vs. DENVER NUGGETS (50-32 SU, 43-39 ATS)

BetUS NBA Betting Odds

Series Price

L.A. LAKERS -600

DENVER +400

The Schedule:

Game 1 — April 20, Nuggets at L.A. Lakers, 3:00PM (ABC/R)

Game 2 — April 23, Nuggets at L.A. Lakers, 10:30PM (TNT)

Game 3 — April 26, L.A. Lakers at Nuggets, 5:30PM (TNT)

Game 4 — April 28, L.A. Lakers at Nuggets, 10:30PM (TNT)

Game 5 (if necessary) — April 30, Nuggets at L.A. Lakers, TBD

Game 6 (if necessary) — May 2, L.A. Lakers at Nuggets, TBD

Game 7 (if necessary) — May 4, Nuggets at L.A. Lakers, TBD

Allan Iverson lit up the Lakers for 51 points in one of the meetings between these two, but the Lakers nonetheless swept all three games this season. Iverson and Carmelo Anthony constituted the NBA's best 1-2 scoring punch, combining for 52 points a game. Players came in and out of the lineup, and there were crises to deal with, such as Nene Hilario's testicular cancer treatments. We know Denver has talent, and we pretty much know what to expect from the Nuggets - they're going to run up and down the court and they are going to score as many points as they possibly can, testing the wind of their opponents, especially in the mile-high Pepsi Center.

Preventing points is another matter. Denver does boast one of the most formidable shot-blockers in the NBA in Marcus Camby, who swatted away 3.6 shots a game to lead the league. Camby also pulled down 13.2 rebounds per contest (2nd), but the rest of his teammates were not as diligent; the Nuggets grabbed about 49% of all rebounding opportunities, which was middle-of-the-road.

J.R. Smith (12.2 ppg) and Ryan Kleiza (11.1 ppg) were strong scorers off the bench, both of whom capable of going for 20 points or more in any given game. Kleiza in particular was a pleasant surprise. But you know, George Karl has always been one of those coaches who has done well enough to get his team to the playoffs on a regular basis, but wasn't able to do much once it got there. I suspect this season won't be much of an exception.

The Lakers have to be considered one of the biggest surprises of the season. Many observers gave them borderline chance to make the Western Conference playoffs, and they wind up with home court advantage throughout this side of the bracket. Kobe Bryant (28.4 ppg) looms as the front-runner for the MVP award, but he wasn't the only vital cog in this machine. Lamar Odom (14.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg) had some problems with consistency, but he is potentially explosive. The key trade deadline acquisition was the pickup of Pau Gasol from Memphis, Gasol, a former All-Star with the Grizzlies, provided another genuine offensive threat to deflect the attention of opposing defenses away from Bryant, and he produced 18.8 points per game. But a big void was left with the injury to Andrew Bynum, who rebounded in double digits (10.2 per game), blocked a couple of shots per contest, and shot 63.6% from the field, which would have been best in the league had he played enough. With Bynum, the Lakers would have had a legitimate shot to win it all. Without him, there is something missing that will slow down Kobe's express sometime during the conference shootout.

And speaking of shootouts, both teams make a healthy percentage of their shots (LA is 47.6%, Denver 46%), but the Nuggets are a little too generous to come away with this one. Please note that Denver, which is 17-24 SU on the road this year, has been a dismal 7-13 ATS the last five years in the post-season.

JAY'S PREDICTION:

L.A. LAKERS (-600) IN FIVE GAMES

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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)